No. 12 Cal Loses Pac-12 Opener At Colorado 4-3
BOULDER, Colo. - Twelfth-ranked California opened Pac-12 Conference play with a 4-3 setback at Colorado on Friday at the South Campus Tennis Complex.
The Buffaloes clinched the victory when CU's Maria Campos defeated Cal freshman Hannah Viller Moeller, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, at court-four singles.
Cal's record is now 6-2 (0-1 Pac-12). Colorado is 7-2 (1-0 Pac-12).
The Golden Bears had done well in doubles of late, winning the doubles point in the previous four matches. But Cal's fortunes changed Friday starting on court one, on which Cal's 40th-ranked pair of Haley Giavara and Valentina Ivanov lost to Sara Nayar and Fleur Eggink, 6-3. The Buffaloes then clinched the point when Campos and Ky Ecton topped Cal senior Julia Rosenqvist and sophomore Erin Richardson, 6-3, on court three. Cal did pick up a win on court two, with Viller Moeller and Anna Bright besting Megan Forster and Antonia Balzert, 6-3.
Cal roared back in singles, winning the first three matches to take a 3-1 lead. First Bright beat Eggink on court five, 6-3, 6-1, the 43rd-ranked Rosenqvist then defeated Balzert on court two, 6-2, 6-3, and finally the 18th-ranked Giavara beat Nayar, 6-4, 6-3, on court one.
But the tide turned again, as Forster upset the 26th-ranked Ivanov, 6-4, 6-3, on three and then Ecton beat Erin Richardson, 6-7(4), 7-6 (3), 6-0, on six to knot the overall contest at 3-3, before Colorado secured the win on court four.
Cal continues Pac-12 play with a match at Utah at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday.